Your media pitch isn’t dead until you hear the word ‘no’

Several readers saw the item in last week’s newsletter about getting onto “Oprah” and wrote to tell me that they pitched ideas months ago and still haven’t heard back from Oprah’s producers. Can they assume their pitches are in the “deleted” folder?

Never!

While getting onto “Oprah” is always a long shot, I’ve heard of cases in which journalists and broadcasters follow up on pitches as long as two years after receiving them.

I posted a Note to my Facebook page last night, telling my friends that publicists need to update themselves periodically on pitches that are still “out there.” Also, I advised, tell your clients not to be surprised if they hear from the media when they least expect it. Clients must be prepared on a second’s notice to discuss an old story idea.

About Joan Stewart

Publicity expert Joan Stewart, a PR mentor aka The Publicity Hound, works with small business owners who need free publicity to promote their expertise. She shows you how to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert, and sell more products and services. To receive her free DIY publicity tips twice a week, subscribe here. See all the ways you can work with Joan. Or contact her and ask a burning question about PR, self-promotion or social media.

Comments

I was lucky enough to catch the show. How inspiring! I have been trying to get onto the Oprah Show for years. I feel the fact that my small business was profiled in the same issue of Essence Magazine when she was on the cover back in 1997, is a omen of sorts. It’s good to know that there is still hope.

I know that Oprah is interested in personal safety. I am working on a way to present “Tracey, The Safety Lady”, a series of columns; advice, product review and recommendations to her and other national talk shows. I want to be the face of safety and the foremost security product expert. I will continue to try!

That show was so inspiring. I am going to try again! I have been trying since 1997 to get onto Oprah. I figured it would be easy since I am in the personal safety business, an on-going favorite topic of Oprah. I haven’t been able to present myself in the right way. Yet. I have recently created, “Tracey, The Safety Lady.” I have prepared columns on personal safety and security topics. I feel that presenting myself as an advice columnist, product reviewer and by making recomendations, I can be the “face of safety”. I will keep trying. The topic is good, it’s the presentation that I am still working on!

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